Easy opening container wall with vent opening

ABSTRACT

An easy opening container wall including a container wall having a line of weakness therein defining a tear portion. The container wall has a rupturable region other than the line of weakness. A tab is attached to the container wall and is movable sequentially through at least first and second movements. A vent opening is formed in the container wall in response to the first movement, and the line of weakness is ruptured in response to the second movement.

Unite States Patent inventor Ermal C. Frame 355 West Stroop Road,Dayton, Ohio 45429 Appl. No. 876,236

Filed Nov. 113, 1969 Patented Dec. 141, 1971 EASY OPENING CONTAINER WALLWITH VENT OPENING 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

ILLS. Cl 220/541, 220/48 llnt. Cl 1136511 17/24, 865d 17/00 Field oilSearch 220/54, 44,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,221,924 12/1965 Harvey eta1 220/48 3,441,169 4/1969 Dunn et a1. 220/54 Primary Examiner-George T.Hall Attorney-Smyth, Roston & Pavitt ABSTRACT: An easy opening containerwall including a container wall having a line of weakness thereindefining a tear portion. The container wall has a ru pturable regionother than the line of weakness. A tab is attached to the container walland is movable sequentially through at least first and second movements.A vent opening is formed in the container wall in response to the firstmovement, and the line of weakness is ruptured in response to the secondmovement.

Patented Dec. 14, 1971 3,627,168

Mll/E/l/TOR ERMAL C FQA ZE ,4 TTOENE Y5 EASY OPENING CONTAINER WALL-WITHVENT OPENING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION line which defines theremovable tear portion. As used herein lo the term vent" has referenceto the creation of an opening in the container wall through which fluidcan flow to cause the pressure within the container to be substantiallyatmospheric. Thus, venting occurs whether the interior of the containeris initially above or below atmospheric pressure.

Prior art easy opening container walls which embody a venting principleinvolve forming the vent opening as a result of the initial lifting ofthe tab. Continued lifting of the tab in the same general directionresults in rupture of the main score line. Typically this is the resultof rapid and unidirectional pivotal movement of the tab so that the ventopening and the rupture of the score line occur in rapid sequence.

A problem with these easy opening container walls is that insufficienttime between the formation of the vent opening and the rupturing of themain score line is provided to fully vent the container especially whenthe initial pressure within the container differs substantially fromatmospheric. Accordingly, there is a pressure differential across theremovable tear portion at the instant that the severance of the sheetmaterial along the main score line is initiated. This pressuredifferential may be sufficient to rapidly completely sever the tearportion from the container wall with consequent danger to, orfrightening of, the user. Another problem is that the rapid movement ofgas through the vent opening may cause some of the product to be sprayedthrough the vent opening. An ever present problem in the easy openingcontainer field is achieving initial rupture of the line of weaknesswith a minimum amount of effort on the part ofthe user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention eliminates thesedisadvantages of prior art constructions by utilizing a tab whichrequires at least first and second sequential manipulative movements torupture the line of weakness. The vent opening is formed in thecontainer wall in response to the first movement and the line ofweakness is ruptured in response to the second movement. With thisarrangement, the vent opening is formed well in advance of theinitiation of severance of the line of weakness so that there issufficient time to adequately vent the container before the lineofweakness is ruptured.

Preferably the manipulative movements of the tab are in differentdirections and the vent opening is preferably formed prior to the lastof such manipulative movements. The time required to change thedirection of movement of the tab and the time to accomplish the lastmanipulative movement affords the necessary time for adequate venting.

These results can best be accomplished by using a tab which includes alever portion and a gripping portion interconnected by a pliableconnecting portion. The lever portion is connected to the tear portionand the gripping portion is initially substantially flat against thecontainer wall. To operate the tab, the user moves the outer end, i.e.,the end remote from the connecting portion, of the gripping portion awayfrom the container wall. This movement is accomplished relatively easilyas the connecting portion is readily bendable. When the gripping portionhas been raised to the desired angle, the user then exerts an outwardpulling force to cause the lever portion to initiate severance of theline of weakness. An advantage of this tab is that the line of weaknessis easily severed.

With the tab just described, the first movement consists of pivoting ofthe gripping portion relative to the lever portion to the desired angleand the second movement is the outward pulling of the gripping elementresulting in pivoting of the lever portion. The pivotal movements of thelever portion and the gripping element are in opposite directions.

To provide a vent opening, the container wall has a weakened regionother than the line of weakness. The weakened region is connected to thetab and ruptures in response to the first movement of the tab. In apreferred form of the invention, the weakened region is connected to thetab by a rupturable vent rivet formed integrally with the containerwall. It can be seen that this combination provides a vent opening andsufficient venting time without sacrificing ease of opening.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operationtogether with further features and advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 11 is a top plan view of an easyopening container wall constructed in accordance with the teachings ofthis invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2-2 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken alone line 3-3 ofFIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings and inparticular to FIG. 1 thereof, reference numeral 1 I designates an easyopening container wall constructed in accordance with the teachings ofthis invention. The easy opening container wall ll includes a can end113 of sheet aluminum or other suitable sheet material having aperipheral attachment flange 15 for attaching the container wall 13 to acan body (not shown). A line of weakness in the form of a score line 19in the container wall 13 defines an elongated tear portion 21 which isremovable from the container wall. A tab 23 is attached to the leadingend of the tear portion 21 by suitable means such as a hollow rivet 25formed integrally with the leading end of the tear portion.

The tab 23 in the embodiment illustrated is integrally constructed froma single piece of sheet aluminum and includes a lever portion 27 and aringlike handle portion or gripping element 29 integrally joined by apliable connecting portion 31. The lever portion 27 has a lifting end orregion adjacent the connecting portion 31 and a fulcrum end 35. Therivet 25 projects through an aperture 37 (FIG. 2) in the lever portion27 adjacent the fulcrum 35 to attach the tab 23 to the leading end ofthe tear portion 21. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the tab lies flatagainst the container wall I3.

The lever portion 27 is stiffened longitudinally by integral,longitudinal reinforcing beads 40 and 41 which are formed by curlingmarginal portions of the lever portion downwardly and inwardly. Thefulcrum end 35 is defined by an upwardly extending flange 42. Thedistance between the connecting portion 31 and the rivet 25 is manytimes greater then the distance between the rivet 25 and the fulcrum end35. This provides the lever portion 27 with substantial mechanicaladvantage in initiating severance of the score line I9.

The handle portion 29 lies in substantially the same plane as the leverportion 27 and completely surrounds the latter. The handle portion 29has a handle end or lifting end 47, a bearing region or end 49 and alarge finger receiving opening 51. A marginal portion of the handleportion 29 is turned upwardly and inwardly to define an outerreinforcing bead 53 which extends substantially completely around thehandle portion 29. The sheet material surrounding the opening 51 isturned upwardly and outwardly to define an inner reinforcing head 55which extends for a substantial distance around the opening 51.

In the embodiment illustrated, the handle portion 29 also serves as alever and is hinged to the lever portion 27 by the connecting portion31. The connecting portion 31 lies closely adjacent the bearing end 49and is quite remote from the lifting end 47 so that the handle portion29 has substantial mechanical advantage.

in the embodiment illustrated, the lever portion 27 is constructed fromthe sheet material which would otherwise be scrapped as a result-of theformation of the opening 51. The

lever portion 27 extends diametrically for considerably more than onehalf of the diameter of the opening 51.

' As shown in FIG. I, the bead 53 terminates in bead ends 57 and 59. Thebead ends 57 and 59 are in closely adjacent generally confrontingrelationship at the end of the tab opposite the handle end 47. Anaperture 61 is formed in the gripping element 29 intermediate the endfaces 57 and 59. The aperture 61 receives a small diameter, rupturable,vent rivet 63 which is formed integrally with the container wall 13 andwhich forms a weakened region thereof. The vent rivet 63 may be of thetype disclosed in copending application, Ser. No. 777,584.

By interrupting the outer bead 53, the vent rivet 63 can be placedcloser to the end 49 of the tab 23. This increases the mechanicaladvantage of the gripping element 29 insofar as rupturing of the ventrivet 63 is concerned. Furthermore, by interrupting the outer bead 53 asshown, heading of the hollow rivet 63 is facilitated.

In operation of the tab 23, the lifting end 47 is moved away from thecontainer wall to pivot the gripping element 29 relative to the leverportion 27 as permitted by the pliable connecting portion 31. Thepivoting of the gripping portion 29 is clockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 andresults in an upward lifting force being applied to the vent rivet 63 bythe gripping segment 29. Upon continued pivotal movement of the grippingsegment 29, the upward lifting force applied to the vent rivet 63becomes efficient to rupture the latter to thereby provide a ventopening in the container wall. Next, the user directs an outward pullingforce on the gripping portion 29. This elevates the end of the leverportion 27 remote from the fulcrum 35 to pivot the lever portioncounterclockwise (as viewed in FIG. 2) about the fulcrum 35 to causerupture of the line of weakness [9 by the lever action of the leverportion. Continued outward pulling on the gripping portion 29 results incomplete removal of the tear portion 21.

By having the outer head 53 extend into close relationship with the ventrivet 63, the gripping portion 29 is provided with sufficient rigidityto apply adequate force to the rivet 63 to rupture the latter. With thepresent invention, the vent opening is formed in response to generallypivotal movement of the gripping portion 29 and initiation of severanceoccurs in response to an outward pulling force on the gripping portionwhich in turn results in opposite pivotal movement of the lever portion.As these movements occur in different directions and sequentially, thenormal operation of the tab 23 inherently provides sufficient ventingtime to thereby assure that the pressure within the container will besubstantially atmospher- 1c.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, many changes, modifications and substitutions may be made byone having ordinary skill in the art without necessarily departing fromthe spirit and scope of this invention.

1 claim:

I. An easy opening container wall comprising:

a container wall having a line of weakness therein defining a tearportion at least partially removable from the container wall to form anopening therein:

a tab having a lever portion and a ringlike gripping segment, saidgripping segment terminating at one end in a handle end and at theopposite end in a bearing region, said lever portion being joined to thegripping segment at a location adjacent said bearing region andprojecting generally radially of the gripping segment generally towardthe handle end, said lever portion being substantially longitudinallyrigid;

means for attaching the lever portion to the container wall so that thelever portion can initiate severance of the line of weakness, saidlocation being spaced from said attaching means;

said container wall having a weakened region therein other 7 than saidline of weakness; and

means other than said attaching means for interconnecting a region onsaid tab adjacent said location with said weakened region, movement ofthe handle end away from the container wall forcing the bearing regionagainst the container wall and severing the weakened region andsubsequent outward pulling of said gripping element initiating severanceof the container wall along the line of weakness.

2. An easy opening container wall as defined in claim 1 wherein saidweakened region includes a rupturable vent rivet formed integrally withthe container wall.

3. An easy opening container wall comprising: a container wall having aline of weakness therein defining a tear portion at least partiallyremovable from the container wall to form an opening therein;

a tab having a lever portion and a ringlike handle portion joined to thelever portion by a pliable connecting portion, said lever portion beingsubstantially longitudinally rigid;

means for attaching the lever portion to the container wall so that thelever portion can initiate severance of the tear portion; 9

said handle portion being joined to said lever portion at a locationspaced from said attaching means, said handle portion extending fromsaid location generally in the direction of said attaching means andterminating in a lifting end remote from said location, said handleportion having a first movement in which the handle end is moved awayfrom the container wall to pivot the handle portion relative to thelever portion generally about said connecting portion and a secondmovement subsequent to said first movement in which the handle portionis pulled outwardly to move said lever portion to cause'the latter toinitiate severance of the line of weakness; and

means on said container wall responsive to said first movement of saidhandle end to form a vent opening in said container wall whereby saidvent opening is formed for a sufiicient time prior to the rupture of theline of weakness to permit adequate venting to occur prior to therupture of the line of weakness.

4. An easy opening container wall as defined in claim 3 wherein saidlast mentioned means includes a weakened region in said container walland means for connecting said weakened region to said tab adjacent saidconnecting portion.

5. An easy opening container wall comprising:

a container wall having a line of weakness therein defining a tearportion at least partially removable from the container wall to form anopening therein;

said container wall having a weakened region therein spaced from saidtear portion;

a tab constructed of a single piece of sheet material, said tabincluding a lever portion and a ringlike handle portion joined to thelever portion by a pliable connecting portion, said lever portion beingsubstantially longitudinally rigid;

means for attaching the lever portion to the tear portion;

said handle portion having a handle end, said lever portion projectingfrom said connecting portion generally in the direction of said handleend; and

means for connecting said tab adjacent said connecting portion to saidweakened region.

6. An easy opening container wall as defined in claim 5 wherein saidhandle portion comprises outer and inner reinforcing beads, both of saidbeads substantially circumscribing at least a substantial segment ofsaid lever portion.

7. An easy opening container wall as defined in claim 6 wherein saidouter bead terminates in two confronting spaced bead ends and said lastmentioned means includes a rivet fonned integrally with the containerwall and projecting through said tab substantially between said beadends.

8. An easy opening container wall as defined in claim ll wherein saidtab is integrally constructed of sheet material and a marginal portionof the sheet material of said gripping segment is turned upwardly todefine a reinforcing bead, said head terminating in a pair of spacedbead ends adjacent said location, said means for interconnectingincluding a rivet projecting through said tab at a location closelyadjacent said head ends.

l W a l t

1. An easy opening container wall comprising: a container wall having aline of weakness therein defining a tear portion at least partiallyremovable from the container wall to form an opening therein; a tabhaving a lever portion and a ringlike gripping segment, said grippingsegment terminating at one end in a handle end and at the opposite endin a bearing region, said lever portion being joined to the grippingsegment at a location adjacent said bearing region and projectinggenerally radially of the gripping segment generally toward the handleend, said lever portion being substantially longitudinally rigid; meansfor attaching the lever portion to the container wall so that the leverportion can initiate severance of the line of weakness, said locationbeing spaced from said attaching means; said container wall having aweakened region therein other than said line of weakness; and meansother than said attaching means for interconnecting a region on said tabadjacent said location with said weakened region, movement of the handleend away from the container wall forcing the bearing region against thecontainer wall and severing the weakened region and subsequent outwardpulling of said gripping element initiating severance of the containerwall along the line of weakness.
 2. An easy opening container wall asdefined in claim 1 wherein said weakened region includes a rupturablevent rivet formed integrally with the container wall.
 3. An easy openingcontainer wall comprising: a container wall having a line of weaknesstherein defining a tear portion at least partially removable from thecontainer wall to form an opening therein; a tab having a lever portionand a ringlike handle portion joined to the lever portion by a pliableconnecting portion, said lever portion being substantiallylongitudinally rigid; means for attaching the lever portion to thecontainer wall so that the lever portion can initiate severance of thetear portion; said handle portion being joined to said lever portion ata location spaced from said attaching means, said handle portionextending from said location generally in the direction of saidattaching means and terminating in a lifting end remote from saidlocation, said handle portion having a first movement in which thehandle end is moved away from the container wall to pivot the handleportion relative to the lever portion generally about said connectingportion and a second movement subsequent to said first movement in whichthe handle portion is pulled outwardly to move said lever portion tocause the latter to initiate severance of the line of weakness; andmeans on said container wall responsive to said first movement of saidhandle end to form a vent opening in said container wall whereby saidvent opening is formed for a sufficient time prior to the rupture of theline of weakness to permit adequate venting to occur prior to therupture of the line of weakness.
 4. An easy opening container wall asdefined in claim 3 wherein said last mentioned means includes a weakenedregion in said container wall and means for connecting said weakenedregion to said tab adjacent said connecting portion.
 5. An easy openingcontainer wall comprising: a container wall having a line of weaknesstherein defining a tear portion at least partially removable from thecontainer wall to form an opening therein; said container wall having aweakened region therein spaced from said tear portion; a tab constructedof a single piece of sheet material, said tab including a lever portionand a ringlike handle portion joined to the lever portion by a pliableconnecting portion, said lever portion being substantiallylongitudinally rigid; means for aTtaching the lever portion to the tearportion; said handle portion having a handle end, said lever portionprojecting from said connecting portion generally in the direction ofsaid handle end; and means for connecting said tab adjacent saidconnecting portion to said weakened region.
 6. An easy opening containerwall as defined in claim 5 wherein said handle portion comprises outerand inner reinforcing beads, both of said beads substantiallycircumscribing at least a substantial segment of said lever portion. 7.An easy opening container wall as defined in claim 6 wherein said outerbead terminates in two confronting spaced bead ends and said lastmentioned means includes a rivet formed integrally with the containerwall and projecting through said tab substantially between said beadends.
 8. An easy opening container wall as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid tab is integrally constructed of sheet material and a marginalportion of the sheet material of said gripping segment is turnedupwardly to define a reinforcing bead, said bead terminating in a pairof spaced bead ends adjacent said location, said means forinterconnecting including a rivet projecting through said tab at alocation closely adjacent said bead ends.